They both connect offices and professionals — but on cost, control, and speed, a marketplace and an agency work very differently. Here’s a clear comparison.
Short answer: A traditional dental staffing agency assigns a candidate and charges a placement fee plus an hourly markup, giving the office little control. A marketplace like TempStars lets offices and professionals connect directly: the office reviews and approves each candidate and rate, pays one flat fee ($73 CAD / $38 USD) only after a completed shift, and pays no hourly markup and no hiring fee.
The three differences that matter most
| What you care about | Traditional agency | TempStars marketplace |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $80–$150+ placement fee, plus a $15–$60/hr markup on the professional’s rate; permanent hire often 15–25% of salary | Flat $73 CAD / $38 USD per completed shift; no hourly markup; no hiring fee |
| Control | The agency assigns the candidate; you may not know who’s coming | You review credentials, ratings, and rate, then approve the candidate yourself |
| Speed & hours | Phone-based, business hours only | Always open; first offers often within hours, many shifts fill in minutes |
| When you pay | Often regardless of outcome | Only after a shift is completed successfully — no shift, no charge |
Why the markup matters more than it looks
An agency’s hourly markup isn’t just an office expense — it suppresses what professionals can earn, because the office’s budget is split between the worker and the agency. Remove the markup, and the same budget can pay the professional more while the office still pays less overall. That’s the structural advantage of a direct marketplace, and it’s why TempStars keeps its fee flat and low.
Trust without a middleman
The old argument for agencies was vetting. A modern marketplace delivers that through transparency instead: bilateral ratings, verified credentials, and active community management. With 630+ Google reviews at a 4.6-star average and 97% of professionals reporting they’re “Very Happy,” TempStars shows that direct connections and high trust aren’t a trade-off.
How to compare your options
Calculate the all-in cost at your actual shift volume (fee plus any markup), check how much control you have over who’s booked, confirm whether you pay only on success, and look at how each option handles permanent hires. Run those four checks and the differences become concrete rather than abstract.
Frequently asked questions
An agency assigns a candidate and charges a placement fee plus an hourly markup, with limited office control. A marketplace like TempStars lets the office review and approve each candidate and rate directly, paying one flat fee after a completed shift with no markup.
Not automatically — compare the all-in cost at your real shift volume. But because TempStars charges a flat fee with no hourly markup and no hiring fee, it’s typically far less than an agency’s fee-plus-markup model.
Yes. TempStars uses verified credentials, bilateral ratings, and active community management. With 630+ Google reviews at 4.6 stars and 97% of professionals “Very Happy,” trust comes from transparency rather than a middleman.
See the difference for yourself
Post a shift or browse opportunities — free to join, you only pay after a successful shift.
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